Agreement called off by council

Uttlesford District Council has pulled out of a partnership with another council because the “risks are too high”.

The council had entered into a revenue and benefits partnership with Harlow District Council but at a cabinet meeting on Thursday concluded it would terminate the agreement.

Jim Ketteridge, leader of the council, said it had been very difficult to achieve meetings with Harlow and, with a number of changes due to take place to benefits, the council felt it best to end the partnership.

Cllr Ketteridge said: “We have already looked at what we can do within our own council in terms of savings and thanks to the team, considerable savings can be made.

“Therefore, it’s our opinion that we do formally terminate the partnership.”

A report to cabinet members stated more than £100,000 had been spent from the Improvement East grant fund from the Government on the partnership but there was no financial loss to Uttlesford.

No redundancies were made and none are planned for staff in the revenues and benefits department of the council, the meeting was told.

John Mitchell, chief executive at Uttlesford, said things were not “breaking down” between Uttlesford and Harlow but the “risks are too high given the uncertainty with government legislation”.